Instead, Alvarez returned to the junior middleweight division to challenge world titleholder Liam Smith, and, in the end, it was as big of a mismatch as most expected.
Advertisement
Liam Smith flexes during the official weigh-in for the upcoming title fight against Canelo Smith at the stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016.
It will be the first time the Liverpudlian has fought outside of the United Kingdom and he will face Canelo fresh off his 6 round knock-out victory over Amir Khan, in May. Smith did not look almost as physically strong as Alvarez, who threw a lot of combinations.
The Liverpudlian, fighting on American soil for the first time, lost his WBO light-middleweight title after Alvarez ended the fight with a punishing body shot, which left Smith writhing around in agony as he failed to beat the count.
Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) claimed the WBO junior middleweight title from Smith after referee Luis Pabon waved the fight off at 2:28 of the ninth round on Saturday at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Alvarez dropped Smith with a big left hand to the body to remain on pace for a showdown with undefeated, unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, which could be held by September 2017. I am the best fighter in this.
“I’ve taken this fight because it’s an opportunity to make a name for myself and establish myself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world”.
“Any day, any time”, said the 26-year-old, according to Sky Sports.
Alvarez landed 37 percent (157/422) of his total shots, including 51 percent (113/220) of his power shots. “I was born for this, and even though many people may not like this, I am the best fighter right now”. The heavy favourite for this fight, you may recall he knocked Amir Khan out cold in Las Vegas four months ago.
Golden Boy will call Canelo’s fight with Liam Smith a chance for him to conquer another weight class. Signals have been mixed from the Alvarez camp whether he was waiting to better negotiating terms and location as well as wanting to spend more time training at a higher weight.
“We’re a team. I’m not going to blame my promoter or anyone else”.
Advertisement
Smith sparred Brook in preparation for this fight, but he suffered a cut over his right eye in training with the Sheffield fighter and it was one of the two which opened up during his fearless display against the Mexican.
